2023 Best Online PhDs in Management

Liberty University (LU) is a private, nonprofit, Christian institution offering an online Doctor of Philosophy in Organization and Management that totals 60 credit hours. Full-time students can spend three years completing the program. The program has three specializations: (1) entrepreneurship, (2) executive coaching, and (3) leadership.

LU facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning on Canvas. This online program explores the theories and practices of the organization and management fields. Sample courses include Managing Human Resources, Understanding the Organization, and Leading Organizational Change. Students are required to complete a dissertation. Prospective careers are business strategists, executive coaches, and risk assessors.

According to LU’s 2022-2023 Student Honor Code, LU is not an LGBTQ-friendly institution. It says, "statements and behaviors that are associated with LGBT lifestyle are prohibited."

Capella University is a private, for-profit institution that offers an online PhD in Business Management requiring at least 90 credit hours. Prospective students can expect to spend three years or more completing this program online. This PhD has seven specialization options, like project management andinformation technology management.

At Capella, online students complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously through the digital platform Blackboard. This program helps students advance their organizational and managerial skills. Some of the program’s courses include Business Principles and Practices, Financial Reporting, and Leadership as Personal Practice. The business management PhD requires a comprehensive exam, a dissertation, and three virtual residencies. Potential careers for graduates include executive officers, management analysts, and university professors.

At the University of Phoenix — a private, for-profit institution — future students can pursue an online Doctor of Management, equaling 54 credit hours. It can take two years or more to complete this program. The program offers two specializations: (1) organizational leadership and (2) information systems and technology.

Phoenix’s online students complete courses in asynchronous formats on the learning management system Blackboard. The doctorate program uses the Scholar Practitioner Leader Model to help students meet their professional goals. Example courses are Emerging Managerial Practices, Architecture of Leadership, and Political Acumen and Ethics. Students must complete seminars, a symposium, and a dissertation to graduate. Then they may pursue careers like management consultants, management analysts, and organizational development consultants.

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) is a public institution with an online Doctor of Management in Community College Policy and Administration requiring 54 credit hours. Full-time students can spend two years or more completing this program. This management program requires an on-site residency.

UMGC facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning on the learning management system D2L Brightspace. This program is designed for college professors and administrators looking to advance their administrative skills. The program’s courses include Higher Education Policy, Institutional Assessment in the Community College Environment, and Leadership and Change. The program requires students to complete a dissertation. Future careers may include associate provosts, department heads, and executive administrators.

The University of the Cumberlands (UC) is a private, nonprofit, and Christian institution with an online Executive Doctor of Philosophy in Business - Project/Strategic Management requiring 66 credit hours. It can take full-time students two years or more to finish.

UC’s distance learners complete courses asynchronously and synchronously on Blackboard. The program offers seven specialty areas, like accounting and healthcare administration. Sample courses include Inferential Statistics, Comparative Economics, and Managerial Ethics and Social Responsibility. Students must complete a practicum and a dissertation to graduate. Additionally, online students must attend in-person residencies in order to graduate. Prospective careers include chief financial officers, postsecondary business instructors, and chief sustainability officers.

UC also offers an online Doctor of Business Administration - Project Management.

National University (NU) is a private, nonprofit university offering an online Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration - Management, which totals 60 credit hours. It can take 38 months to finish this degree. This doctorate comprises 20 courses that are delivered in eight-week formats.

At NU, online students complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously on Blackboard. In this program, students develop the skills and knowledge to pursue leadership roles across various fields. Sample courses include Workforce Management, Cultural Issues, and Diversity and Inclusion. A dissertation is required to graduate. Similar programs offered at NU include an online Doctor of Philosophy in Technology Management and an online Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Management. Prospective careers include human resource managers, chief executive officers, and business consultants.

Indiana Wesleyan University Online (IWU) is a private, nonprofit institution offering an online Doctor of Business Administration - Management that totals 60 credit hours. It can take three years to graduate. This is a hybrid program requiring students to complete an on-site residency.

At IWU, online students complete courses delivered asynchronously and synchronously on D2L Brightspace. The program prepares students to assume leadership roles across various fields. Example courses are Virtuous Marketing, Data Analytics and Research, and Economic Analysis for Virtuous Leaders. A comprehensive exam and a seminar are required. Potential career options for graduates include college professors, consultants, and economists.

IWU is not an LGBT-friendly school. According to its Student Handbook, IWU prohibits students from engaging in the LGBT community.

At Clemson University, a public university, prospective students can pursue an online Doctor of Philosophy in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, which requires 60 credit hours. Online full-time students can expect to spend three or more years finishing their degrees. Students must complete at least 15 hours of an in-person residency on Clemson’s campus.

Clemson facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning on the learning management system Canvas. The program is for students seeking leadership roles within recreation management. Some of the core courses include Behavioral Aspects of PRTM, Grantsmanship, and Public Data Analysis. A comprehensive exam, a research practicum, and a dissertation are required. Graduates may go on to careers like executive administrators, project managers, and organizational managers.

Touro University Worldwide (TUW) is a private, nonprofit, Jewish university offering an online Doctor of Management that totals 66 credit hours. TUW provides resources for LGBT students. Prospective students can expect to spend three years or more finishing the program with a full class schedule. The program offers two concentrations: (1) strategic innovation and change and (2) organizational leadership.

TUW’s online students complete coursework asynchronously and synchronously on Canvas. The program provides a comprehensive understanding of managerial theories and research. Some of the program’s courses include The Scholar Practitioner Model, Evidence-Based Practices in Management, and Honing the Methods. Students are required to complete a dissertation to graduate. Potential career options include C-suite executives, business executives, and college professors.

Alliant International University is a private, for-profit institution that offers an online Doctor of Business Administration - Concentration in Management requiring 60 credit hours. Completing this degree with a full class load can take three years. Students must complete curricular practical training conducted on-site.

At Alliant, online students complete coursework through the learning platform Canvas. The management concentration explores organizational development and theories. Sample courses are Organizational Behavior and Development, Contemporary Readings in Marketing, and Critical Issues in Business Management. Additional program requirements include seminars and a dissertation. Prospective careers include directors of human resources, program managers, and strategic planners.

An online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Management is a similar program Alliant also offers.

Trevecca Nazarene University is a private, nonprofit, Christian university with an online Doctor of Business Administration in Enterprise Leading and Managing equaling 60 credit hours. Full-time students can spend 32 months to complete this program. This online PhD program has no in-person residency requirements.

At Trevecca, online students complete courses asynchronously and synchronously on Blackboard. The Enterprise Leading and Managing concentration is designed for professionals managing complex enterprises. Example courses include Leading at the Enterprise Level, Managing Complex Operations, and Entrepreneurial Management. An applied doctoral project and a dissertation are required for graduation. Graduates may pursue careers like operations managers, chief financial officers, and executive coaches.

Trevecca is not an LGBT-friendly school. According to their 2022-2023 Student Handbook, the university encourages students to avoid LGBT relationships.

At Maharishi International University (MIU) — a private, nonprofit institution — future students can pursue an online Doctor of Philosophy in Management totaling 60 credit hours. Full-time students can expect to spend three years or more completing this degree. This doctorate program is delivered holistically, encouraging students to practice mindfulness throughout their studies.

MIU facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning on the learning management system Canvas. In this program, students develop the skills to lead organizations holistically. Some of the program’s requirements include Assessing Human Development, Literature Review, and Multiple Regression. An exam and dissertation research and defense are required. Future careers include market research analysts, project managers, and professors.

Bowling Green State University - Main Campus (BGSU) is a public university offering an online Doctor of Philosophy in Technology Management, which requires 66 credit hours. It can take three years or more to finish this program online. BGSU offers five specializations in this online PhD, such as construction management and quality systems.

BGSU uses Canvas to facilitate asynchronous and synchronous online learning. The program covers four study areas: (1) general technology, (2) research, (3) technical specialization, and (4) professional studies. Some of the program’s courses include Impacts of Technology, Legal Aspects of Industry, and Internet Research Methods. Field research projects, a research seminar, an internship, a portfolio, and a dissertation are all required for graduation. Potential careers may include management consultants, chief executive officers, and entrepreneurs.

Eastern University is a private, nonprofit, and Christian institution with an online Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership - Business Management equaling 60 credit hours. It can take three years to complete this online graduate degree. Students are required to attend three residencies each year at Eastern.

Online students complete courses delivered asynchronously and synchronously on D2L Brightspace. The business management concentration focuses on the challenges faced by 21st-century business leaders and how to address them. The program’s courses include Organizational Design, Training and Development, and Consulting Practice. The program requires students to complete a dissertation to graduate. Graduates may go on to careers like healthcare executives, college professors, and human resources directors.

Saint Thomas University (STU) is a private, nonprofit, Roman Catholic university offering an online Doctor of Business Administration in Management, which totals 90 credit hours. Full-time students can spend three years or more completing this program. The program offers three research options for students: (1) traditional dissertation, (2) article dissertation, and (3) action research.

At STU, online students complete courses asynchronously and synchronously via Canvas. This graduate program focuses on managing people, policies, and products. Some of the program’s courses include Global Social Media Management, Entrepreneurship, and Information Ethics. Students may be required complete seminars, doctoral research, or a dissertation. Potential careers for graduates include management consultants, business managers, and management analysts.

Thomas Edison State University (TESU) is a public university offering an online Doctor of Business Administration - General Management that equals 48 credit hours. It can take 32 months to three years to finish this program. The program allows students to enroll in one three-credit course in consecutive eight-week terms in order to complete the program quicker.

TESU facilitates online learning on the learning management system Moodle. The general management specialization helps students advance their leadership skills. Some of the program’s courses include The Global Context: Trends, Issues, and Markets; Empirical Entrepreneurship: Data, Technology, and Business Intelligence; and Seminar in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Students are required to complete a Scholar-Practitioner Field Project to graduate. Future careers include economists, C-level executives, and business consultants.

At Wayland Baptist University (WBU) — a private, nonprofit, Christian institution — prospective students can pursue an online Doctor of Management totaling 60 credit hours. Full-time students can spend three years or more finishing their studies. The program comprises 48 credit hours of core courses and 12 credit hours of dissertation courses.

WBU’s online students complete courses available asynchronously and synchronously on Blackboard. In this program, students learn research methods and theories they can apply to their careers. Sample courses include Organizational Behavior, Group and Team Processes, and Business Ethics. A dissertation is required for graduation. Graduates may pursue careers like college professors, directors of human resources, and program managers.

WBU is not an LGBT-friendly school. WBU’s Policy and Procedures Manual states LGBT activities and relationships are prohibited.

Amridge University is a private, nonprofit, Christian institution offering an online Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership and Management that equals 51 credit hours. It can take four years to complete this program. The program is split into an orientation course, research courses, discipline-specific courses, and dissertation courses.

Amridge facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning on Canvas. This program is designed for students looking to expand their knowledge and skills in research strategies and concepts. Example courses include Human Development and Motivation, Legal Aspects of Management, and Negotiation and Conflict Management. Students must complete an orientation, a comprehensive exam, and a dissertation to graduate. Potential careers for graduates include strategic planners, project managers, and market research analysts.

Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a private, nonprofit university offering an online Doctor of Business Administration - Management, which requires 60 credit hours. Prospective students can expect to spend three years or more finishing this degree with a full class load. The management concentration comprises four courses, or 12 credit hours.

At LMU, online students complete coursework that is delivered asynchronously on Blackboard. The program prepares students to address business challenges in an ever-evolving economy. Sample courses are Organizational Theory, Financial Management, and Multivariate Data Analysis. The program requires students to complete a dissertation. Prospective careers include management analysts, economists, and college professors.

Capitol Technology University (Capitol Tech) is a private, nonprofit university offering an online Doctor of Philosophy in Product Management, which equals 60 credit hours. Prospective students can expect to complete this program within three years or more. The program offers two track options, including either a dissertation or publication.

Capitol Tech facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning on the learning management system Canvas. This program prepares students to assume various leadership roles in business management. The program’s courses include Project Management Research Methodologies, Product Management Writing, and Product Management Future Demands. A dissertation or doctoral research is required for graduation. Potential careers include senior vice presidents, managing directors, and business development consultants.

Sullivan University is a private, for-profit institution with an online Doctor of Philosophy in Management totaling 90 credit hours. Full-time students can spend three years or more finishing this degree program. It has four specializations: (1) conflict management, (2) human leadership, (3) information technology management, and (4) strategic management.

At Sullivan, online students complete coursework delivered in asynchronous and synchronous formats on Blackboard. The program helps students develop their research and application skills. Some of the program’s courses include Organizations and External Environments, Managing Innovation and Change in Organizations, and Individual and Group Behavior in Organizations. Students are required to complete a comprehensive exam, residencies, and a dissertation. Future careers may include project managers, entrepreneurs, and executive administrators.

Carolina University (CU) is a private, nonprofit, Christian university offering an online Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership that totals 73 credit hours. It can take four years to complete this program with a full class load. The program offers nine concentrations, like healthcare administration and business.

At CU, online students complete courses delivered on their learning management system. Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become effective leaders. Sample courses include Global Leadership, Strategic Planning, and Organizational Theory & Behavior. The online management PhD program requires an in-person residency and a dissertation to graduate. Future careers for graduates may include college professors, project managers, and healthcare administrators.

California Intercontinental University (CIU) is a private, for-profit institution offering an online Doctor of Business Administration - Entrepreneurship & Business Management that requires 60 credit hours. Prospective students can expect to spend three years or more completing their studies. The Entrepreneurship & Business Management concentration is 15 credit hours.

CIU facilitates asynchronous and synchronous online learning with ClearPath. The program helps students develop their applied research, leadership, and decision-making skills. Sample courses include Global Economy, International Business, and Financial Entrepreneurial Ventures. A dissertation and a comprehensive competency assessment are required. Prospective careers include C-level executives, business owners, and startup managers.

Similar degrees include an online Doctor of Business Administration in Global Business and Leadership, Healthcare Management & Leadership, and Information Systems and Enterprise Resource Management.

At George Fox University, which is a private, nonprofit, and Christian university, future students can pursue an online Doctor of Business Administration in Management equaling 56 credit hours. It can take 3-4 years to finish this online doctorate. The program allows students to attend an in-person campus session, but it’s not required.

George Fox’s students complete courses delivered in asynchronous and synchronous formats on Canvas. This management concentration explores organization theory and behavior and human resources development. Some examples of courses include Organizational Theory and Behavior, Human Resource Development, and Global Strategy. Doctoral research and a dissertation are required for graduation. Potential career options include chief operating officers, academic program directors, and business consultants.

Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU) is a private, nonprofit, Christian university with an online Doctor of Business Administration - Management totaling 56 credit hours. This program can be completed within three years. Students have the option to complete a dissertation or a work project.

At OKWU, online students complete courses delivered on D2L Brightspace. A Doctor of Management is designed for professionals looking to assume business leadership roles. Some of the program’s courses include Integrating Faith & Business, Human Resource Selection, and Decision-Making Models. Graduate students may be required to complete a dissertation, a comprehensive exam, or a work project. After earning their degrees, they are eligible to pursue careers like associate professors, area managers, and chief technology officers.

Saybrook University Hybrid Online is a private, nonprofit university with an online Doctor of Philosophy in Managing Organizational Systems requiring 60 credit hours. Students can take up to five years to complete this program. The program offers four specializations: (1) humane education, (2) leadership of sustainable systems, (3) educational leadership, and (4) collaborative strategic management.

At Saybrook, online students complete courses asynchronously and synchronously on Canvas. This online doctoral program in management is for students looking to advance their organizational leadership skills. Some of the program’s courses include Leading and Developing the 21st Century, Ethics and Social Responsibility, and Organizational Complexity and Systems Thinking. Students must complete a dissertation and possibly an in-person Residential Conference. Prospective careers include independent consultants, corporate trainers, and program managers.

At California Miramar University, (CMU), a private and for-profit university, prospective students can pursue an online Doctor of Business Administration in Strategic Management totaling 61 credit hours. It can take three or more years to complete this degree program. The online graduate program comprises core courses, prerequisites, and dissertation courses.

CMU’s online students complete coursework delivered on Moodle. This graduate program prepares working professionals to become competitive for senior-level positions in their field. Some of the program’s courses include Globalization and Global Business Strategy, Strategic Human Resource Management, and Modern Business-Driven Technologies and E-Commerce. Students must complete a dissertation and comprehensive exam to graduate. Future careers may include assistant professors, directors of human resources, and executive vice presidents.